School Committee addresses restraint policy, budget priorities, bullying data
Amherst School Committee, Hybrid Meeting · Meeting of June 16, 2026
AMHERST — School Committee addresses restraint practices and anti-bullying data over nearly five hours. Superintendent Dr. Xi Herman presented preliminary FY27 budget projections tied to school consolidations and the opening of Chestnut Street Academy, with the Committee identifying top priorities including school climate, mental health support, and staffing for compliance with restraint and anti-bullying policies.
The Committee voted 5-0 to accept gifts and 4-1 to extend the meeting by 30 minutes to continue discussion of physical restraint and seclusion practices. Committee member Bridget Hynes reported that the Joint Policy Committee's draft updated restraint policy JKAA, effective in August, emphasizes restraint as a last resort and strengthens caregiver notification; district staff reported data showing most restraints in the current school year (33 total) last less than four minutes, while community concerns about the design of four seclusion rooms planned for Amethyst Brook remain under review with the architect and contractor.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 446 words
Source: the Amherst School Committee, Hybrid Meeting meeting of June 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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